The virus that cures
Antibiotic resistant bacteria are becoming a threat to human survival and as yet pharmaceutical companies do not have any answers. However, in the Republic of Georgia scientists treat patients with phage therapy with great success. Phages are viruses that destroy bacteria but they are specific to specific bacteria so good treatment depends on good diagnosis and selection of the correct phage. The beauty of the phage is that it is alive and is, therefore, a naturally evolving medicine. This therapy is not available in the West and the reasons lie in history. If science is not published in English, then it does not exist. There has been some interest by an American venture capitalist and he is presently trying to develop the process in the United States but could not come to an agreement with the scientists in Georgia over patents
DVD Video, English, ©2005
BBC Worldwide, North Sydney, N.S.W., ©2005